Water Leak Scam

Police in one region are warning residents not to let anyone in their homes to check out a phony water leak.

Who Is It Targeting: Homeowners and residents

What Is It: A utility scam in which a fake repairman needs to “check out” a suspected leak.

What Are They After: The Pinellas County (FL) sheriff has issued a warning to area residents about an all-too-common scam. Two men, posing as water department employees, knock on doors and inform the homeowners that there’s a water leak in the residence. They come inside in order to find the source of the problem, then one repairman distracts the homeowner while the other goes through the residence, stealing valuables.

How Can You Avoid It:

• Do not allow anyone into your home without proper authorization.
• If in doubt, make them wait outside while you call the company directly and verify it.
• If something fishy is going on, be sure to report it to the police so they can warn the public.

If you think you may be a victim of identity theft, contact the Identity Theft Resource Center for toll-free, no-cost assistance at (888) 400-5530. Find more information about current scams and alerts here. For full details of this scam check out this article from Patch.com.